Systems, devices and methods for managing access point name information by operators and users on the sim

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, embodiments that include accessing a group of user controlled mobile equipment access point names in response to the device detecting a user controlled mobile equipment access point name elementary file (EF_UMEAPN) stored in a memory of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC). An operator stores access point name information and the access point name information comprises the EF_UMEAPN. Further embodiments include configuring the device according to the group of user controlled mobile equipment access point names. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/277,343 filed on Feb. 15, 2019. All sections of the aforementionedapplication are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to a systems, devices, and methods formanaging access point name information by operators and users on theSubscriber Identity Module (SIM).

BACKGROUND

Communication devices and communication technologies continue to improveand evolve. As these changes occur, devices are often updated in orderto be compatible with these changes. As more devices transition to beingsmart devices that are capable of network communication, the desire formore efficient provisioning of these devices increases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary, non-limitingembodiment of a communications network in accordance with variousaspects described herein.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a system for managing Access Point Name (APN) informationutilizing a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) of a wirelessdevice in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2B depicts an illustrative embodiment of a table indicating APNinformation stored in an Elementary file of a UICC.

FIG. 2C-2E depict illustrative embodiments of bit coding for APNinformation.

FIG. 2F depicts an illustrative embodiment of APN information that canbe stored in a UICC memory.

FIGS. 2G-2I depict illustrative embodiments of methods used in portionsof the system described in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a virtualized communication network in accordance withvarious aspects described herein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of amobile network platform in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acommunication device in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for accessing a group of user controlled mobile equipmentaccess point names in response to the device detecting a user controlledmobile equipment access point name elementary file (EF_UMEAPN) stored ina memory of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC). An operatorstores access point name information and the access point nameinformation comprises the EF_UMEAPN. Further embodiments includeconfiguring the device according to the group of user controlled mobileequipment access point names. Other embodiments are described in thesubject disclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a device. Thedevice comprising a processing system including a processor, and amemory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by theprocessing system, facilitate performance of operations. The operationscomprising accessing a group of user controlled mobile equipment accesspoint names in response to the device detecting a user controlled mobileequipment access point name elementary file (EF_UMEAPN) stored in amemory of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC). An operator storesaccess point name information and the access point name informationcomprises the EF_UMEAPN. Further embodiments include configuring thedevice according to the group of user controlled mobile equipment accesspoint names.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a machine-readablemedium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by aprocessing system including a processor, facilitate performance ofoperations. The operations comprising accessing a group of usercontrolled mobile equipment access point names in response to theprocessing system detecting a user controlled mobile equipment accesspoint name elementary file (EF_UMEAPN) stored in a memory of a universalintegrated circuit card (UICC). An operator stores access point nameinformation and the access point name information comprises theEF_UMEAPN. Further embodiments include detecting a type of serviceprovided by the processing system. Additional embodiments includeconfiguring the processing system according to the group of usercontrolled mobile equipment access point names and the type of service.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a method. Themethod comprising accessing, by a processing system including aprocessor, a group of user controlled mobile equipment access pointnames in response to the processing system detecting a user controlledmobile equipment access point name elementary file (EF_UMEAPN) stored ina memory of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC). An operatorstores access point name information and the access point nameinformation comprises the EF_UMEAPN. Further embodiments includedetermining, by the processing system, that the processing systemrequires a type of service. Additional embodiments include determining,by the processing system, that a network associated with each of thegroup of user controlled mobile equipment access point names does notsupport the type of service. Additional embodiments can includeidentifying, by the processing system, an APN associated with a networkthat provides the type of service resulting in an identified APN andupdating, by the processing system, the EF_UMEAPN to include theidentified APN to the group of user controlled mobile equipment accesspoint names resulting in an updated group of user controlled mobileequipment access point names. Also, embodiments can include accessingthe updated group of user controlled mobile equipment access pointnames. Further embodiments include configuring, by the processingsystem, the processing system according to the updated group of usercontrolled mobile equipment access point names.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a communications network 100 inaccordance with various aspects described herein. For example,communications network 100 can facilitate in whole or in parttransmission of access point names into the UICC for access by awireless device such that each network associated with each access pointname can provide different services. In particular, a communicationsnetwork 125 is presented for providing broadband access 110 to aplurality of data terminals 114 via access terminal 112, wireless access120 to a plurality of mobile devices 124 and vehicle 126 via basestation or access point 122, voice access 130 to a plurality oftelephony devices 134, via switching device 132 and/or media access 140to a plurality of audio/video display devices 144 via media terminal142. In addition, communication network 125 is coupled to one or morecontent sources 175 of audio, video, graphics, text and/or other media.While broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130 andmedia access 140 are shown separately, one or more of these forms ofaccess can be combined to provide multiple access services to a singleclient device (e.g., mobile devices 124 can receive media content viamedia terminal 142, data terminal 114 can be provided voice access viaswitching device 132, and so on).

The communications network 125 includes a plurality of network elements(NE) 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. for facilitating the broadband access 110,wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or thedistribution of content from content sources 175. The communicationsnetwork 125 can include a circuit switched or packet switched network, avoice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network, Internet protocol (IP)network, a cable network, a passive or active optical network, a 4G, 5G,or higher generation wireless access network, WIMAX network,UltraWideband network, personal area network or other wireless accessnetwork, a broadcast satellite network and/or other communicationsnetwork.

In various embodiments, the access terminal 112 can include a digitalsubscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), cable modem terminationsystem (CMTS), optical line terminal (OLT) and/or other access terminal.The data terminals 114 can include personal computers, laptop computers,netbook computers, tablets or other computing devices along with digitalsubscriber line (DSL) modems, data over coax service interfacespecification (DOCSIS) modems or other cable modems, a wireless modemsuch as a 4G, 5G, or higher generation modem, an optical modem and/orother access devices.

In various embodiments, the base station or access point 122 can includea 4G, 5G, or higher generation base station, an access point thatoperates via an 802.11 standard such as 802.11n, 802.11ac or otherwireless access terminal. The mobile devices 124 can include mobilephones, e-readers, tablets, phablets, wireless modems, and/or othermobile computing devices.

In various embodiments, the switching device 132 can include a privatebranch exchange or central office switch, a media services gateway, VoIPgateway or other gateway device and/or other switching device. Thetelephony devices 134 can include traditional telephones (with orwithout a terminal adapter), VoIP telephones and/or other telephonydevices.

In various embodiments, the media terminal 142 can include a cablehead-end or other TV head-end, a satellite receiver, gateway or othermedia terminal 142. The display devices 144 can include televisions withor without a set top box, personal computers and/or other displaydevices.

In various embodiments, the content sources 175 include broadcasttelevision and radio sources, video on demand platforms and streamingvideo and audio services platforms, one or more content data networks,data servers, web servers and other content servers, and/or othersources of media.

In various embodiments, the communications network 125 can includewired, optical and/or wireless links and the network elements 150, 152,154, 156, etc. can include service switching points, signal transferpoints, service control points, network gateways, media distributionhubs, servers, firewalls, routers, edge devices, switches and othernetwork nodes for routing and controlling communications traffic overwired, optical and wireless links as part of the Internet and otherpublic networks as well as one or more private networks, for managingsubscriber access, for billing and network management and for supportingother network functions.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a system 200 for managing Access Point Name (APN)information 225 utilizing a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) 220of a wireless communication device 216 (which is illustrated in thisexample as being part of a communication system of a vehicle 102) inaccordance with various aspects described herein. The wireless device216 can be various types of devices (mobile or fixed) in variousenvironments, including mobile phones, vehicle communication systems,M2M devices, Internet of Things devices, wearable devices, intelligentwatches, smart appliances, smart televisions, or any other communicationdevice, such as one that includes a modem or radio access module withthe ability to be provisioned with and/or to store APN information in aUICC. In one embodiment, the wireless device 216 can have a limited orno direct user interface (e.g., the device may be limited to receivinguser input via a wireless signal and/or via a plug-in interface that isnot part of the device).

The UICC 220 can be various types of smart cards (removable or fixed)including USIM, Subscriber Identity Module, eUICC and so forth. In oneembodiment, the UICC 220 can be part of a secure services platform ofthe wireless device 216, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,240,989, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The APN information 225 can be associated with one or more APNs that canbe utilized for wireless communications by the wireless device 216. Asan example, the APN information 225 can include the name of a gatewaybetween a GSM, GPRS, 3G or 4G mobile network and another computernetwork, such as the public Internet. For instance, the wireless device216 seeking to establish a data connection can be configured with an APNto present to a carrier. The carrier can then examine the APN identifierto determine what type of network connection should be created, such aswhich IP addresses should be assigned to the wireless device 216, whichsecurity methods should be used, and/or how or if, it should beconnected to some private customer network. In one embodiment, the APNinformation 225 can identify a Packet Data Network (PDN) that a mobiledata user wants to communicate with. In this example, the APNinformation 225 can also be used to define the type of service, (e.g.,connection to Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) server, MultimediaMessaging Service (MMS), and so forth) that is provided by the PDN. TheAPN information 225 can be used in various 3GPP data access networks,such General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) or evolved packet core (EPC).

In one embodiment, the APN information 225 can include a networkidentifier and/or an operator identifier. For example, the networkidentifier can define the external network to which the Gateway GPRSSupport Node (GGSN) is connected. In another embodiment, the networkidentifier can also include the service requested by the user. Asanother example, the operator identifier can define the specificoperator's PDN in which the GGSN is located. In another embodiment, theAPN information 225 can include a mobile country code (MCC) and/or amobile network code (MNC), which together can uniquely identify a mobilenetwork operator.

In one embodiment, OTA provisioning can be utilized for providing and/orupdating the APN information 225. For example, a server 230 can providean OTA provisioning message via network 232 to the wireless device 216so that additional APN information can be received by the UICC 220. TheUICC 220 can generate and store updated APN information according to thereceived additional APN information.

In one embodiment, the server 230 can perform a batch update associatedwith one or more APN's where the batch update is associated with a groupof communication devices (including the wireless device 216). Forinstance, the server 230 can transmit a wireless provisioning messagethat includes additional access point name information to the group ofcommunication devices. In one embodiment, the additional access pointname information can be independent of (or otherwise not configuredbased upon) a type of radio access module being utilized by each of thegroup of communication devices. As such, the same APN information 225can be provided to different devices that operate utilizing differenttypes of radio access modules (e.g., different radio access modulesmanufactured by different entities). The transmitting of the wirelessprovisioning message enables the group of communication devices toupdate access point name information stored in UICC's of each of thegroup of communication devices. In one embodiment, the generating of thewireless provisioning message includes providing a mobile country codein the additional access point name information. In one embodiment, thegenerating of the wireless provisioning message includes providing amobile carrier code in the additional access point name information. Inone embodiment, the generating of the wireless provisioning messageincludes providing a user name and password in the additional accesspoint name information.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the APN information 225 can be stored in anelementary file of the UICC 220. For example, the elementary file canprovide a set of configuration parameters for USIM based APNprovisioning records. For instance, the elementary file can contain anactivity flag and BER-TLV coded file APN provisioning data. This datacan then be made available to a device processor (separate from the UICCprocessor) of the wireless device 216 to provision static APN recordswhen registered on a given network.

Referring to FIG. 2C, an APN Validity Flag can be utilized which is abit coded Byte with the following Coding:

-   -   Bit 8 (MSB)=0, TLV data valid=1, TLV data invalid, file content        should be discarded    -   Bit 7-1 (data)=hex coded decimal count of APN records defined        within file

Example

-   -   Byte 1: FF->File content irrelevant, invalidated    -   Byte 1: 0C->File Active, 12 APN records expected within EF

Referring to FIG. 2D, Bytes 2-n can be COMPREHENSION-TLV coded objectswhere data body tag: “A0”—other TAGs Reserved for Future Use; data bodylength: hex coded length of “data Value”; and data body value:COMPREHENSION-TLV data set. The body of the data can be wrapped in onecomplete BER-TLV object. In one embodiment, individual APN records canbe stored sequentially within the body in individual TLVs.

Referring to FIG. 2E, APN objects can be described by tags, such asthose listed as in the table in FIG. 2E. As an example, sequential APNrecords can be independent and unrelated such that each APN record canconsist of a unique set of parameters and are not dependent onpreviously defined APN records. In one embodiment, unused tags may beomitted. Content for omitted tags can assume a NULL value. The byte “FF”can be reserved for file termination and/or read error. In the event thedevice processor of the wireless device 116 reads a byte of “FF”, thedevice processor can terminate the read of the file and disregardadditional data within the file (e.g., any data following a byte of “FF”can be considered invalid). This will provide for a non-provisioned APNfile (defaulting to “FF” data blocks) and certain terminals that return“FF” upon incorrect file data read, invalid access condition, and soforth.

Referring to FIG. 2F, an example of APN information 225 that is to bestored in UICC 120 where there is an operator configuration utilizingthree APN records. The coding would be as follows:

-   -   Byte 1:    -   File is active and includes 3 records. Byte1=“03”    -   Bytes 2-n:

A0 Tag “A0” 00 9A 0x009A bytes of data body 80 01 01 Index: 01 81 07 6465 66 61 75 6c 74 Name: default 82 14 64 65 66 61 75 6c 74 2e 6f 70 6572 default.operator.com 61 74 6f 72 2e 63 6f 6d 83 03 33 31 30 310 84 0338 37 36 876 85 01 01 01 80 01 02 Index: 02 81 09 62 72 6f 61 64 62 616e 64 broadband 82 09 62 72 6f 61 64 62 61 6e 64 broadband 83 03 33 3130 310 84 03 38 37 36 876 85 01 01 01 89 06 6d 79 75 73 65 72 myuser 8A06 6d 79 70 61 73 73 mypass 80 01 03 Index: 03 81 0c 49 6e 66 6f 74 6169 6e 6d 65 6e 74 Name: Infotainment 82 06 6e 65 77 61 70 6e newapn 8303 33 31 30 310 84 03 38 37 36 876 89 07 6e 65 77 75 73 65 72 newuser 8A07 6e 65 77 70 61 73 73 newpass

This would result in a transparent file content of:

A0 00 9A 80 01 81 07 64 65 66 61 75 6c 74 82 14 64 65 66 61 75 6c 74 2e6f 70 65 72 61 74 6f 72 2e 63 6f 6d 83 03 33 31 30 84 03 38 37 36 85 0101 80 02 81 09 62 72 6f 61 64 62 61 6e 64 82 09 62 72 6f 61 64 62 616e64 83 03 33 31 30 84 03 38 37 36 85 01 01 89 06 6d 79 75 73 65 72 8A06 6d 79 70 61 73 73 80 03 81 0c 49 6e 66 6f 74 61 69 6e 6d 65 6e 74 8206 6e 65 77 61 70 6e 83 03 33 31 30 84 03 38 37 36 89 07 6e 65 77 75 7365 72 8A 07 6e 65 77 70 61 73 73 ff . . . ff

FIG. 2G depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method 700 used bysystem 200 for management of APN information. Further, the method 700applies to use of the Operator Controlled Mobile Equipment Access PointNames elementary file (EF_OMEAPN). At 702, APN information can beobtained and at 704 the APN information can be stored in a UICC. As anexample, the UICC can be provisioned with the APN information and thenthe UICC can be provided for use with the particular wireless device. Inanother embodiment, the UICC can be coupled with the wireless device andcan then receive the APN information, such as from a memory of thedevice processor and/or via an OTA provisioning message.

At 706, the UICC can provide the device processor of the wireless devicewith access to the APN information. For instance, responsive to abooting procedure by the device processor, the device processor can readthe APN information from the UICC memory and store it in a cache memoryof the device processor for use during wireless communications.

At 710, a wireless provisioning message can be received from aprovisioning server, where the wireless provisioning message includesadditional access point name information associated with one or moreAPN's. In one embodiment, the wireless provisioning message can beassociated with a batch update that is directed to a group ofcommunication devices, where at least some of the group of communicationdevices utilize different types of radio access modules, and where theadditional access point name information is independent of (and notconfigured based on) the different types of radio access module. At 712,the UICC can update the stored data based on the additional APNinformation to generate updated APN information and can store, in theUICC memory, the updated APN information.

Referring back to FIG. 2A, in one or more embodiments, a mobile operatorcan download APN information 225 into the UICC 220 of the wirelessdevice 216. The APN information can be included an elementary file thatincludes operator controlled mobile equipment access point names(EF_OMEAPN), an elementary file that includes user controlled mobileequipment access point names (EF_UMEAPN), or default parameters thatinclude default access point names. Note, the operator (carrier) canedit, change, or otherwise adjust the EF_OMEAPN using OTA transmissions.However, the operator cannot edit, change or otherwise adjust theEF_UMEAPN. The user can edit, change, or otherwise adjust the EF_UMEAPNbut the user cannot edit, change or otherwise adjust the EF_OMEAPN. Bythe term “user” as in EF_UMEAPN, it can be meant to be a user of thewireless device 216. For example, for wireless device 216, the user canbe the vehicle manufacturer but not the owner or driver of the vehicle.In other embodiments, it may be the owner or driver of the vehicle.

In one or more embodiments, the wireless device 216 may determinewhether the EF_UMEAPN exists, and if so, read the memory of the UICC 220to access APNs, then configure the wireless device according to theaccessed APNs from the EF_UMEAPN. In some embodiments, if the EF_UMEAPNdoes not exist but the EF_OMEAPN exists, the wireless device 216 canread the memory of the UICC 220 to access APNs, then configure thewireless device according to the accessed APNs from the EF_OMEAPN. Ifneither the EF_UMEAPN nor the EF_OMEAPN exists, then the wireless devicecan access the default parameters including the default APNs andconfigure the wireless device 216 accordingly. If both the EF_UMEAPN andthe EF_OMEAPN exist or stored in the memory of the UICC 220, then theEF_UMEAPN can take precedence over the EF_OMEAPN. That is, the wirelessdevice 216 can be programmed to configure itself using the EF_UMEAPNwhen both the EF_UMEAPN and the EF_OMEAPN exist in the memory of theUICC 220.

In one or more embodiments, the wireless device 216 can detect a type ofservice that it is configured to provide and select an APNS from thegroup of APNs (among the user controlled mobile equipment access pointnames, operator controlled mobile equipment access point names, anddefault access point names) that can provide the type of service. Forexample, the wireless device 216 may be in a public safety vehicle (firedepartment vehicle, police department vehicle, ambulance, etc.) and thewireless device 216 requires high priority communications. Further, thewireless device 216 can select an APN that can provide high prioritycommunications. As another example, a popular access point name can beoperator.vehicle.net that provides non-prioritized communications.However, another access point name can beoperator.highpriority.vehicle.net that provides high prioritycommunications (possible on a different band or cellular spectrum thanother more popular access point names) on it network. The wirelessdevice may select such an access point name accordingly. In stillanother example, the wireless device 216 may provide children's mediacontent. There may be an access point nameoperator.childmedia.vehicle.net that is associated with a network thatfilters media content for children's media content and blocks othernon-children media content.

In one or more embodiments, the wireless device 216 can detect from theEF_UMEAPN that none of the networks associated with the user controlledmobile equipment access point names can provide the service it isrequired to provide. Thus, the wireless device 216 can edit, change orotherwise adjust or update the EF_UMEAPN to an updated EF_UMEAPN with anupdated group of user controlled mobile equipment access point names,one of which is associated with the type of service the wireless device216 is required to provide.

FIG. 2H depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method 800 in accordancewith various aspects described herein. In one or more embodiments, themethod 800 can be implemented by a wireless device such as the onedescried in FIG. 2A. The method 800 includes booting the wirelessdevice, at 802. Further, the method 8000 can include the wirelessdevice, at 804, detecting a user controlled mobile equipment accesspoint name elementary file (EF_UMEAPN) stored in a memory of a UICC. Insome embodiments, an operator stores access point name information andthe access point name information comprises the EF_UMEAPN. If theEF_UMEAPN is detected, the method 800 includes the wireless device, at806, accessing a group of user controlled mobile equipment access pointnames. In addition, the method 800 includes the wireless device, at 808,configuring the wireless device according to the group of usercontrolled mobile equipment access point names. This can includedefining the Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context in a modem accessible bythe wireless device (PDP context means a connection to the packetnetwork using an APN).

In one or more embodiments, if the wireless device determines that theEF_UMEAPN is not available from the UICC or exists in the UICC, then themethod 800 can include the wireless device, at 810, detecting anoperator controlled mobile equipment access point name elementary file(EF_OMEAPN) stored in the memory of the UICC. An operator stores accesspoint name information and the access point name information comprisesthe EF_OMEAPN. If the EF_OMEAPN is detected, the method 800 includes thewireless device, at 812, accessing a group of operator controlled mobileequipment access point names. In addition, the method 800 includes thewireless device, at 814, configuring the wireless device according tothe group of operator controlled mobile equipment access point names.This can include defining the PDP context in a modem accessible by thewireless device.

In one or more embodiments, if the wireless device determines that theEF_UMEAPN and the EF_OMEAPN are not available from the UICC or exist,then the method 800 can include the wireless device detecting thedefault parameters stored in the memory of the UICC. The operator storesaccess point name information and the access point name informationcomprises the default parameters. Further, the method 800 can includethe wireless device, at 816, accessing default parameters. The defaultparameters can comprise default access point names. In addition, themethod 800 can include the wireless device, at 818, configuring thedevice according to the default parameters, which includes defining thePDP context in a modem accessible by the wireless device.

FIG. 2I depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method 900 in accordancewith various aspects described herein. In one or more embodiments, themethod 900 can be implemented by a wireless device such as the onedescried in FIG. 2A. The method 900 can include the wireless device, at902, detecting a user controlled mobile equipment access point nameelementary file (EF_UMEAPN) stored in a memory of a UICC. An operatorstores access point name information and the access point nameinformation comprises the EF_UMEAPN. Further, the method 900 includesthe wireless device, at 904, accessing a group of user controlled mobileequipment access point names. In addition, the method 900 can includethe wireless device, at 906, configuring the device according to thegroup of user controlled mobile equipment access point names. Also, themethod 900 can include the wireless device, at 908, detecting a type ofservice provided by the device. Further, the method 900 can include thewireless device, at 912 determining that the EF_UMEAPN is not availablefrom the UICC (or otherwise does not exist). In addition, the method 900can include the wireless device, at 914, identifying an APN associatedwith a network that provides the type of service resulting in anidentified APN. In addition, the method 900 can include the wirelessdevice, at 916, updating the EF_UMEAPN to include the identified APN tothe group of user controlled mobile equipment access point namesresulting in an updated group of user controlled mobile equipment accesspoint names. Also, the method 900 can include the wireless device, at918, accessing the updated group of user controlled mobile equipmentaccess point names. Further, the method 900 can include the wirelessdevice, at 920, configuring the wireless device according to the updatedgroup of user controlled mobile equipment access point names in theupdated EF_UMEAPN. This can include the wireless device selecting theidentified APN from the updated group of user controlled mobileequipment access point names that provides the type of service (e.g.high priority communications for public safety, filtering services toblock adult programming for children, etc.).

In further embodiments, the selecting of the access point name cancomprise determining the type of service requires a high prioritycommunications and selecting the access point name according to anetwork associated with the access point name that provides highpriority communications. In additional embodiments, the selecting of theaccess point name comprises determining the type of service requiresfiltering services, and selecting the access point name according to anetwork associated with the access point name that provides filteringservices.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 2G-2I,it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matteris not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein. Further, parts ofembodiments can be combined with parts of other embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication networkin accordance with various aspects described herein. In particular avirtualized communication network is presented that can be used toimplement some or all of the subsystems and functions of communicationnetwork 100, the subsystems and functions of system 200, and methodspresented herein. For example, virtualized communication network 300 canfacilitate in whole or in part transmission of access point names intothe UICC for access by a wireless device such that each networkassociated with each access point name can provide different services.

In particular, a cloud networking architecture is shown that leveragescloud technologies and supports rapid innovation and scalability via atransport layer 350, a virtualized network function cloud 325 and/or oneor more cloud computing environments 375. In various embodiments, thiscloud networking architecture is an open architecture that leveragesapplication programming interfaces (APIs); reduces complexity fromservices and operations; supports more nimble business models; andrapidly and seamlessly scales to meet evolving customer requirementsincluding traffic growth, diversity of traffic types, and diversity ofperformance and reliability expectations.

In contrast to traditional network elements—which are typicallyintegrated to perform a single function, the virtualized communicationnetwork employs virtual network elements (VNEs) 330, 332, 334, etc. thatperform some or all of the functions of network elements 150, 152, 154,156, etc. For example, the network architecture can provide a substrateof networking capability, often called Network Function VirtualizationInfrastructure (NFVI) or simply infrastructure that is capable of beingdirected with software and Software Defined Networking (SDN) protocolsto perform a broad variety of network functions and services. Thisinfrastructure can include several types of substrates. The most typicaltype of substrate being servers that support Network FunctionVirtualization (NFV), followed by packet forwarding capabilities basedon generic computing resources, with specialized network technologiesbrought to bear when general purpose processors or general purposeintegrated circuit devices offered by merchants (referred to herein asmerchant silicon) are not appropriate. In this case, communicationservices can be implemented as cloud-centric workloads.

As an example, a traditional network element 150 (shown in FIG. 1), suchas an edge router can be implemented via a VNE 330 composed of NFVsoftware modules, merchant silicon, and associated controllers. Thesoftware can be written so that increasing workload consumes incrementalresources from a common resource pool, and moreover so that it'selastic: so the resources are only consumed when needed. In a similarfashion, other network elements such as other routers, switches, edgecaches, and middle-boxes are instantiated from the common resource pool.Such sharing of infrastructure across a broad set of uses makes planningand growing infrastructure easier to manage.

In an embodiment, the transport layer 350 includes fiber, cable, wiredand/or wireless transport elements, network elements and interfaces toprovide broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130,media access 140 and/or access to content sources 175 for distributionof content to any or all of the access technologies. In particular, insome cases a network element needs to be positioned at a specific place,and this allows for less sharing of common infrastructure. Other times,the network elements have specific physical layer adapters that cannotbe abstracted or virtualized, and might require special DSP code andanalog front-ends (AFEs) that do not lend themselves to implementationas VNEs 330, 332 or 334. These network elements can be included intransport layer 350.

The virtualized network function cloud 325 interfaces with the transportlayer 350 to provide the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide specificNFVs. In particular, the virtualized network function cloud 325leverages cloud operations, applications, and architectures to supportnetworking workloads. The virtualized network elements 330, 332 and 334can employ network function software that provides either a one-for-onemapping of traditional network element function or alternately somecombination of network functions designed for cloud computing. Forexample, VNEs 330, 332 and 334 can include route reflectors, domain namesystem (DNS) servers, and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)servers, system architecture evolution (SAE) and/or mobility managemententity (MME) gateways, broadband network gateways, IP edge routers forIP-VPN, Ethernet and other services, load balancers, distributers andother network elements. Because these elements don't typically need toforward large amounts of traffic, their workload can be distributedacross a number of servers—each of which adds a portion of thecapability, and overall which creates an elastic function with higheravailability than its former monolithic version. These virtual networkelements 330, 332, 334, etc. can be instantiated and managed using anorchestration approach similar to those used in cloud compute services.

The cloud computing environments 375 can interface with the virtualizednetwork function cloud 325 via APIs that expose functional capabilitiesof the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide the flexible and expandedcapabilities to the virtualized network function cloud 325. Inparticular, network workloads may have applications distributed acrossthe virtualized network function cloud 325 and cloud computingenvironment 375 and in the commercial cloud, or might simply orchestrateworkloads supported entirely in NFV infrastructure from these thirdparty locations.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein. In order to provide additional context for various embodimentsof the embodiments described herein, FIG. 4 and the following discussionare intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitablecomputing environment 400 in which the various embodiments of thesubject disclosure can be implemented. In particular, computingenvironment 400 can be used in the implementation of network elements150, 152, 154, 156, access terminal 112, base station or access point122, switching device 132, media terminal 142, and/or VNEs 330, 332,334, etc. Each of these devices can be implemented viacomputer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers,and/or in combination with other program modules and/or as a combinationof hardware and software. For example, computing environment 400 canfacilitate in whole or in part transmission of access point names intothe UICC for access by a wireless device such that each networkassociated with each access point name can provide different services.

Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

As used herein, a processing circuit includes one or more processors aswell as other application specific circuits such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit, digital logic circuit, state machine,programmable gate array or other circuit that processes input signals ordata and that produces output signals or data in response thereto. Itshould be noted that while any functions and features described hereinin association with the operation of a processor could likewise beperformed by a processing circuit.

The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be alsopracticed in distributed computing environments where certain tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media, which cancomprise computer-readable storage media and/or communications media,which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and comprises both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured dataor unstructured data.

Computer-readable storage media can comprise, but are not limited to,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM),flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digitalversatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devicesor other tangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to storedesired information. In this regard, the terms “tangible” or“non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory orcomputer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude onlypropagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquishrights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media thatare not only propagating transitory signals per se.

Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local orremote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or otherdata retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect tothe information stored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and comprises any informationdelivery or transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signalsrefers to a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set orchanged in such a manner as to encode information in one or moresignals. By way of example, and not limitation, communication mediacomprise wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 4, the example environment can comprise acomputer 402, the computer 402 comprising a processing unit 404, asystem memory 406 and a system bus 408. The system bus 408 couplessystem components including, but not limited to, the system memory 406to the processing unit 404. The processing unit 404 can be any ofvarious commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors andother multiprocessor architectures can also be employed as theprocessing unit 404.

The system bus 408 can be any of several types of bus structure that canfurther interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 406comprises ROM 410 and RAM 412. A basic input/output system (BIOS) can bestored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines thathelp to transfer information between elements within the computer 402,such as during startup. The RAM 412 can also comprise a high-speed RAMsuch as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 402 further comprises an internal hard disk drive (HDD) 414(e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal HDD 414 can also be configured forexternal use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy diskdrive (FDD) 416, (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette418) and an optical disk drive 420, (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk 422 or,to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such as theDVD). The HDD 414, magnetic FDD 416 and optical disk drive 420 can beconnected to the system bus 408 by a hard disk drive interface 424, amagnetic disk drive interface 426 and an optical drive interface 428,respectively. The hard disk drive interface 424 for external driveimplementations comprises at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus(USB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394interface technologies. Other external drive connection technologies arewithin contemplation of the embodiments described herein.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 402, the drives and storagemedia accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable storage media above refersto a hard disk drive (HDD), a removable magnetic diskette, and aremovable optical media such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that other types of storage media which arereadable by a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flashmemory cards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the exampleoperating environment, and further, that any such storage media cancontain computer-executable instructions for performing the methodsdescribed herein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 412,comprising an operating system 430, one or more application programs432, other program modules 434 and program data 436. All or portions ofthe operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 412. The systems and methods described herein can beimplemented utilizing various commercially available operating systemsor combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 402 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 438 and apointing device, such as a mouse 440. Other input devices (not shown)can comprise a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick,a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen or the like. These and otherinput devices are often connected to the processing unit 404 through aninput device interface 442 that can be coupled to the system bus 408,but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, anIEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port,an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 444 or other type of display device can be also connected tothe system bus 408 via an interface, such as a video adapter 446. Itwill also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a monitor 444can also be any display device (e.g., another computer having a display,a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.) for receiving displayinformation associated with computer 402 via any communication means,including via the Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to themonitor 444, a computer typically comprises other peripheral outputdevices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 402 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 448. The remotecomputer(s) 448 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallycomprises many or all of the elements described relative to the computer402, although, for purposes of brevity, only a remote memory/storagedevice 450 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprisewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 452 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 454. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich can connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 402 can beconnected to the LAN 452 through a wired and/or wireless communicationnetwork interface or adapter 456. The adapter 456 can facilitate wiredor wireless communication to the LAN 452, which can also comprise awireless AP disposed thereon for communicating with the adapter 456.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 402 can comprisea modem 458 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN454 or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 454,such as by way of the Internet. The modem 458, which can be internal orexternal and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the systembus 408 via the input device interface 442. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the computer 402 or portionsthereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 450. It willbe appreciated that the network connections shown are example and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers can beused.

The computer 402 can be operable to communicate with any wirelessdevices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication,e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portabledata assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment orlocation associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk,news stand, restroom), and telephone. This can comprise WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, thecommunication can be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at home, a bedin a hotel room or a conference room at work, without wires. Wi-Fi is awireless technology similar to that used in a cell phone that enablessuch devices, e.g., computers, to send and receive data indoors and out;anywhere within the range of a base station. Wi-Fi networks use radiotechnologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, ac, ag, etc.) to providesecure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can beused to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wirednetworks (which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operatein the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands for example or with productsthat contain both bands (dual band), so the networks can providereal-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernetnetworks used in many offices.

Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment 500 of a mobile network platform510 is shown that is an example of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156,and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. For example, platform 510 can facilitatein whole or in transmission of access point names into the UICC foraccess by a wireless device such that each network associated with eachaccess point name can provide different services. In one or moreembodiments, the mobile network platform 510 can generate and receivesignals transmitted and received by base stations or access points suchas base station or access point 122. Generally, mobile network platform510 can comprise components, e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers,or disparate platforms, that facilitate both packet-switched (PS) (e.g.,internet protocol (IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM))and circuit-switched (CS) traffic (e.g., voice and data), as well ascontrol generation for networked wireless telecommunication. As anon-limiting example, mobile network platform 510 can be included intelecommunications carrier networks, and can be considered carrier-sidecomponents as discussed elsewhere herein. Mobile network platform 510comprises CS gateway node(s) 512 which can interface CS traffic receivedfrom legacy networks like telephony network(s) 540 (e.g., publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN))or a signaling system #7 (SS7) network 560. CS gateway node(s) 512 canauthorize and authenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from suchnetworks. Additionally, CS gateway node(s) 512 can access mobility, orroaming, data generated through SS7 network 560; for instance, mobilitydata stored in a visited location register (VLR), which can reside inmemory 530. Moreover, CS gateway node(s) 512 interfaces CS-based trafficand signaling and PS gateway node(s) 518. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTSnetwork, CS gateway node(s) 512 can be realized at least in part ingateway GPRS support node(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated thatfunctionality and specific operation of CS gateway node(s) 512, PSgateway node(s) 518, and serving node(s) 516, is provided and dictatedby radio technology(ies) utilized by mobile network platform 510 fortelecommunication over a radio access network 520 with other devices,such as a radiotelephone 575.

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic andsignaling, PS gateway node(s) 518 can authorize and authenticatePS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions cancomprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to themobile network platform 510, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 550,enterprise network(s) 570, and service network(s) 580, which can beembodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced withmobile network platform 510 through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to benoted that WANs 550 and enterprise network(s) 570 can embody, at leastin part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Basedon radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) orradio access network 520, PS gateway node(s) 518 can generate packetdata protocol contexts when a data session is established; other datastructures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can begenerated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 518 cancomprise a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetizedcommunication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Finetworks.

In embodiment 500, mobile network platform 510 also comprises servingnode(s) 516 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) withintechnology resource(s) in the radio access network 520, convey thevarious packetized flows of data streams received through PS gatewaynode(s) 518. It is to be noted that for technology resource(s) that relyprimarily on CS communication, server node(s) can deliver trafficwithout reliance on PS gateway node(s) 518; for example, server node(s)can embody at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, ina 3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s) 516 can be embodied in serving GPRSsupport node(s) (SGSN).

For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s)514 in mobile network platform 510 can execute numerous applicationsthat can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows,and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format . . . ) such flows. Suchapplication(s) can comprise add-on features to standard services (forexample, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided bymobile network platform 510. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that arepart of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gatewaynode(s) 518 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a datasession, and to serving node(s) 516 for communication thereafter. Inaddition to application server, server(s) 514 can comprise utilityserver(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning server, anoperations and maintenance server, a security server that can implementat least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as othersecurity mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s)secure communication served through mobile network platform 510 toensure network's operation and data integrity in addition toauthorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 512and PS gateway node(s) 518 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s)can provision services from external network(s) like networks operatedby a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN 550 or GlobalPositioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s)can also provision coverage through networks associated to mobilenetwork platform 510 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same serviceprovider), such as the distributed antennas networks shown in FIG. 1(s)that enhance wireless service coverage by providing more networkcoverage.

It is to be noted that server(s) 514 can comprise one or more processorsconfigured to confer at least in part the functionality of mobilenetwork platform 510. To that end, the one or more processor can executecode instructions stored in memory 530, for example. It is should beappreciated that server(s) 514 can comprise a content manager, whichoperates in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore.

In example embodiment 500, memory 530 can store information related tooperation of mobile network platform 510. Other operational informationcan comprise provisioning information of mobile devices served throughmobile network platform 510, subscriber databases; applicationintelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates, flat-rateprograms, couponing campaigns; technical specification(s) consistentwith telecommunication protocols for operation of disparate radio, orwireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory 530 can also storeinformation from at least one of telephony network(s) 540, WAN 550, SS7network 560, or enterprise network(s) 570. In an aspect, memory 530 canbe, for example, accessed as part of a data store component or as aremotely connected memory store.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 5, and the following discussion, are intended toprovide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in whichthe various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented.While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on acomputer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination withother program modules. Generally, program modules comprise routines,programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particulartasks and/or implement particular abstract data types.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an illustrative embodiment of a communicationdevice 600 is shown. The communication device 600 can serve as anillustrative embodiment of devices such as data terminals 114, mobiledevices 124, vehicle 126, display devices 144 or other client devicesfor communication via either communications network 125. For example,computing device 600 can facilitate in whole or in part transmission ofaccess point names into the UICC for access by a wireless device suchthat each network associated with each access point name can providedifferent services.

The communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, apower supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion sensor 618, anorientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 602 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1×, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 600 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 608 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display610 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 600. In anembodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 608 can be presented by way of the display 610 withnavigation features.

The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 600 can be adapted to present a user interfacehaving graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by auser with a touch of a finger. The display 610 can be equipped withcapacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect howmuch surface area of a user's finger has been placed on a portion of thetouch screen display. This sensing information can be used to controlthe manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of the userinterface. The display 610 can be an integral part of the housingassembly of the communication device 600 or an independent devicecommunicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (suchas a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 612 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 612 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI604 can further include an image sensor 613 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 600 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable communications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 600 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 618can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device600 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 606 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 600.

Other components not shown in FIG. 6 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 600 can include a slot for adding or removing an identity modulesuch as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or Universal IntegratedCircuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can be used for identifyingsubscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and soon.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in theclaims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity only anddoesn't otherwise indicate or imply any order in time. For instance, “afirst determination,” “a second determination,” and “a thirddetermination,” does not indicate or imply that the first determinationis to be made before the second determination, or vice versa, etc.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “datastore,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any otherinformation storage component relevant to operation and functionality ofa component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a“memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciatedthat the memory components described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile andnonvolatile memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, disk storage, and memory storage. Further,nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory cancomprise random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cachememory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available inmany forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhancedSDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methodsherein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising,these and any other suitable types of memory.

Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter can bepracticed with other computer system configurations, comprisingsingle-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computingdevices, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-heldcomputing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, smartphone, watch, tabletcomputers, netbook computers, etc.), microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. Theillustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network; however, some if not allaspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alonecomputers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules canbe located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

In one or more embodiments, information regarding use of services can begenerated including services being accessed, media consumption history,user preferences, and so forth. This information can be obtained byvarious methods including user input, detecting types of communications(e.g., video content vs. audio content), analysis of content streams,sampling, and so forth. The generating, obtaining and/or monitoring ofthis information can be responsive to an authorization provided by theuser. In one or more embodiments, an analysis of data can be subject toauthorization from user(s) associated with the data, such as an opt-in,an opt-out, acknowledgement requirements, notifications, selectiveauthorization based on types of data, and so forth.

Some of the embodiments described herein can also employ artificialintelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more featuresdescribed herein. The embodiments (e.g., in connection withautomatically identifying acquired cell sites that provide a maximumvalue/benefit after addition to an existing communication network) canemploy various AI-based schemes for carrying out various embodimentsthereof. Moreover, the classifier can be employed to determine a rankingor priority of each cell site of the acquired network. A classifier is afunction that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, . . . ,xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, that is,f(x)=confidence (class). Such classification can employ a probabilisticand/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysisutilities and costs) to determine or infer an action that a user desiresto be automatically performed. A support vector machine (SVM) is anexample of a classifier that can be employed. The SVM operates byfinding a hypersurface in the space of possible inputs, which thehypersurface attempts to split the triggering criteria from thenon-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes the classificationcorrect for testing data that is near, but not identical to trainingdata. Other directed and undirected model classification approachescomprise, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neuralnetworks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilistic classification modelsproviding different patterns of independence can be employed.Classification as used herein also is inclusive of statisticalregression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the embodiments canemploy classifiers that are explicitly trained (e.g., via a generictraining data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g., via observing UEbehavior, operator preferences, historical information, receivingextrinsic information). For example, SVMs can be configured via alearning or training phase within a classifier constructor and featureselection module. Thus, the classifier(s) can be used to automaticallylearn and perform a number of functions, including but not limited todetermining according to predetermined criteria which of the acquiredcell sites will benefit a maximum number of subscribers and/or which ofthe acquired cell sites will add minimum value to the existingcommunication network coverage, etc.

As used in some contexts in this application, in some embodiments, theterms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, orcomprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to anoperational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, whereinthe entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. As an example, a componentmay be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution,computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By wayof illustration and not limitation, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components mayreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component maybe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In addition, these components can execute from variouscomputer readable media having various data structures stored thereon.The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such asin accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., datafrom one component interacting with another component in a local system,distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet withother systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be anapparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical partsoperated by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by asoftware or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein theprocessor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes atleast a part of the software or firmware application. As yet anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus that provides specificfunctionality through electronic components without mechanical parts,the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to executesoftware or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality ofthe electronic components. While various components have beenillustrated as separate components, it will be appreciated that multiplecomponents can be implemented as a single component, or a singlecomponent can be implemented as multiple components, without departingfrom example embodiments.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method,apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device or computer-readable storage/communicationsmedia. For example, computer readable storage media can include, but arenot limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk,magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digitalversatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g.,card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art willrecognize many modifications can be made to this configuration withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

In addition, the words “example” and “exemplary” are used herein to meanserving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or designdescribed herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments ordesigns. Rather, use of the word example or exemplary is intended topresent concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, theterm “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive“or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “Xemploys A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusivepermutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both Aand B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoinginstances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in thisapplication and the appended claims should generally be construed tomean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context tobe directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms such as “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,”subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” “mobiledevice” (and/or terms representing similar terminology) can refer to awireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wirelesscommunication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video,sound, gaming or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. Theforegoing terms are utilized interchangeably herein and with referenceto the related drawings.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer” andthe like are employed interchangeably throughout, unless contextwarrants particular distinctions among the terms. It should beappreciated that such terms can refer to human entities or automatedcomponents supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., a capacityto make inference based, at least, on complex mathematical formalisms),which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth.

As employed herein, the term “processor” can refer to substantially anycomputing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited tocomprising, single-core processors; single-processors with softwaremultithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-coreprocessors with software multithread execution capability; multi-coreprocessors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; andparallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, aprocessor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), acomplex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistorlogic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designedto perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploitnano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular andquantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimizespace usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor canalso be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

As used herein, terms such as “data storage,” data storage,” “database,”and substantially any other information storage component relevant tooperation and functionality of a component, refer to “memorycomponents,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprisingthe memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components orcomputer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory.

What has been described above includes mere examples of variousembodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing these examples, but one of ordinary skill in the art canrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the presentembodiments are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and/orclaimed herein are intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes”is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term isintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates thebeginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by otheractivities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indicationreflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/ormay be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further,while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, otherorderings are likewise possible provided that the principles ofcausality are maintained.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupledto”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/orindirect coupling between items via one or more intervening items. Suchitems and intervening items include, but are not limited to, junctions,communication paths, components, circuit elements, circuits, functionalblocks, and/or devices. As an example of indirect coupling, a signalconveyed from a first item to a second item may be modified by one ormore intervening items by modifying the form, nature or format ofinformation in a signal, while one or more elements of the informationin the signal are nevertheless conveyed in a manner than can berecognized by the second item. In a further example of indirectcoupling, an action in a first item can cause a reaction on the seconditem, as a result of actions and/or reactions in one or more interveningitems.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: a processing systemincluding a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance ofoperations, the operations comprising: determining that a usercontrolled mobile equipment access point name elementary file(EF_UMEAPN) stored in a memory of a universal integrated circuit card(UICC) is not available from the UICC; accessing a group of operatorcontrolled mobile equipment access point names in response to the devicedetecting an operator controlled mobile equipment access point nameelementary file (EF_OMEAPN) stored in the memory of the UICC; andconfiguring the device according to the group of operator controlledmobile equipment access point names.
 2. The device of claim 1, whereinthe accessing of the group of operator controlled mobile equipmentaccess point names comprises accessing the group of operator controlledmobile equipment access point names from the EF_OMEAPN.
 3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein an operator stores access point name information in thememory.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the access point nameinformation comprises the EF_OMEAPN.
 5. The device of claim 1, whereinthe operations comprise: determining that the EF_UMEAPN stored in thememory of the UICC is available from the UICC; accessing a group of usercontrolled mobile equipment access point names in response to the devicedetecting the EF_UMEAPN stored in the memory of the UICC; andconfiguring the device according to the group of user controlled mobileequipment access point names.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein theaccessing of the group of user controlled mobile equipment access pointnames comprises accessing the group of user controlled mobile equipmentaccess point names from the EF_UMEAPN.
 7. The device of claim 5, whereinan operator stores access point name information.
 8. The device of claim7, wherein the access point name information comprises the EF_UMEAPN. 9.The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise detectinga type of service provided by the device, wherein the configuring of thedevice comprises selecting an access point name from the group ofoperator controlled mobile equipment access point names according to thetype of service.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the selecting of theaccess point name comprises: determining the type of service compriseshigh priority communications; and selecting the access point nameaccording to a network associated with the access point name thatprovides the high priority communications.
 11. The device of claim 9,wherein the selecting of the access point name comprises: determiningthe type of service requires filtering services; and selecting theaccess point name according to a network associated with the accesspoint name that provides the filtering services.
 12. A non-transitory,machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, whenexecuted by a processing system including a processor, facilitateperformance of operations, the operations comprising: determining that auser controlled mobile equipment access point name elementary file(EF_UMEAPN) stored in a memory of a universal integrated circuit card(UICC) is not available from the UICC; accessing a group of operatorcontrolled mobile equipment access point names in response to theprocessing system detecting an operator controlled mobile equipmentaccess point name elementary file (EF_OMEAPN) stored in the memory ofthe UICC; detecting a type of service provided by the processing system,wherein the type of service comprises providing high prioritycommunications; and configuring the processing system according to thegroup of operator controlled mobile equipment access point names andaccording to the providing of the high priority communications.
 13. Thenon-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein theoperations comprise: determining that the EF_UMEAPN stored in the memoryof the UICC is available from the UICC; accessing a group of usercontrolled mobile equipment access point names in response to theprocessing system detecting the EF_UMEAPN stored in the memory of theUICC, wherein an operator stores access point name information, whereinthe access point name information comprises the EF_UMEAPN; andconfiguring the processing system according to the group of usercontrolled mobile equipment access point names.
 14. The non-transitory,machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the accessing of the groupof user controlled mobile equipment access point names comprisesaccessing the group of user controlled mobile equipment access pointnames from the EF_UMEAPN.
 15. The non-transitory, machine-readablemedium of claim 12, wherein the accessing of the group of operatorcontrolled mobile equipment access point names comprises accessing thegroup of operator controlled mobile equipment access point names fromthe EF_OMEAPN.
 16. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim12, wherein an operator stores access point name information in thememory.
 17. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 16,wherein the access point name information comprises the EF_OMEAPN.
 18. Amethod, comprising: determining, by a processing system including aprocessor, that a user controlled mobile equipment access point nameelementary file (EF_UMEAPN) stored in a memory of a universal integratedcircuit card (UICC) is not available from the UICC; accessing, by theprocessing system, a group of operator controlled mobile equipmentaccess point names in response to the processing system detecting anoperator controlled mobile equipment access point name elementary file(EF_OMEAPN) stored in the memory of the UICC; detecting, by theprocessing system, a type of service provided by the processing system,wherein the type of service comprises providing filtering services; andconfiguring, by the processing system, the processing system accordingto the group of operator controlled mobile equipment access point namesand according to the providing of the filtering services.
 19. The methodof claim 18, wherein the accessing of the group of operator controlledmobile equipment access point names comprises accessing the group ofoperator controlled mobile equipment access point names from theEF_OMEAPN.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein an operator stores accesspoint name information in the memory, wherein the access point nameinformation comprises the EF_OMEAPN.